Today’s lesson is going to take a little bit of turn from what I’ve done in the past. I hope this lesson can be of use to youth ministries, family counselors, parents and grandparents, plus, family devotionals or family home evenings.

In my neighborhood, and other neighborhoods, multiple homes were damaged by floodwater during the weekend. Much of this was due to city drains getting clogged and causing water to pour into people’s basements. I realize that many congregations helped their neighbors by helping distressed neighbors clean out damaged home. I thought this type of activity would be a useful topic for today’s presentation.

Many times the lessons touch upon us following Christ by performing acts of charity is. But I can also see the usefulness of things that are taught to youth who become involved in a workgroup that is helping a neighbor. Here are some ideas or additional fringe benefits outside learning how to be Christ like. Here are a few:

1. It is an educational opportunity to see men and women working together in labor they are not getting paid for. In history neighbors used to help each other raise a barn. That no longer happens nowadays. Nowadays, neighbors show compassion by helping others clean up a mess. These youths watch people of all abilities contribute in some way.
2. When the youth are exposed to working adults, they see successful cooperation and communication. Some individuals are more familiar with the construction of a house, and so can give advice about how to turn off the power to avoid being electrocuted when going to a basement full of water. Another point of advice might be how high drywall may need to be removed to later be replaced.
3. An observer to a group preforming charity sees how different jobs can be streamlined. Certain people will contribute with their own resources and tools. Others may divide up their tasks by ability. Some may cut away the carpet. Some will lift the saturated material and push it out through the window. Those waiting outside the window will transfer the trash into bags. At the signing time certain people are either vacuuming up the water or breaking damaged drywall, so the back area of a wall can be dried out.
4. By a young teen seeing drywall being torn away from a basement wall gives them an experience that they’ve never had before. It lets them see how things are built. In the past. I wondered how once the basement was flooded, how it could be used again. Now that I realize drywall can be removed and the water damage repaired. Then you add the drywall back again, and repaint so you can use the home.
5. Another silent lesson that is taught is how many hands make a lighter load. A job that would’ve taken 40 hours by one or two people was done by 20 in about two hours. This can teach the youth efficiency. It could also teach them that by working hard in the beginning can make the job shorter.
6. Working together in an act of charity, but when you see adults preforming it, it’s no longer just words. Its actions. Those adults become examples to emulate.
7. This can create a bonding opportunity by shared experiences. As a side note, just as young men are invited to come and help clean up the mess. I think it’s also a valuable experience for young women as well.

These may be just a few things aside from just be more Christ like that of benefits of having youth involved in acts of charity.